First to Bid: A Bachelor Auction Romance (Unraveled Book 2)

by Marie Johnston

  “Don’t call me that!”

  Her venomous tone pushed me back a step. “It was your name. Why’d you change it?”

  “Because I never liked it.” She cradled her arm to herself. I hadn’t grabbed her hard, but from the faraway look in her eye, the action only symbolized the upheaval in her mind. Then she slanted me a look. “Crazy J, really?”

  I chuckled. “You sounded a little wacky when you had your jaw wired shut.” She made a choking sound and I grew somber. “It’s okay, Tilly. We’re all awkward as kids.”

  “Awkward doesn’t describe braces as a teenager.”

  “You did pick neon pink and yellow.”

  She shifted her gaze to look out the window and lifted a shoulder. “Go big or go home, right?”

  Her tone was flat. I’d expected her to own her jaw surgery and brilliant braces. They’d fit her whole look back then. What else would her motivation have been?

  She was staring out the window. Blue glittered in the distance. I didn’t want to leave, but I’d get the supply run over with so I could…what? Watch her? Hang with her?

  “Do you know how to swim?” Yeah, that was why I was in a hurry to get back. Didn’t want Tilly drowning while I was perusing prime cuts of steak. My heart rate kicked up at the thought.

  “No. Why? I won’t go out far.”

  “Then wait until I get back from town.” She was about to argue but I shushed her with a finger on her lips. Bad decision. Too soft, too plump, too tempting. I snatched my hand away. “Test the jets on this tub and I’ll get the hot tub running tonight after you check out the lake.”

  Her pink tongue darted out to lick where my finger had been. She was going to kill me.

  “Fine,” she grumbled, but the Tilly light was back in her eyes.

  For a second, I thought of hanging around to see if she’d strip out of her bikini in front of me as she had with her shorts.

  I turned on my heel and made a beeline for the front door. How was I going to survive a week without touching her?

  Tilly

  I laid my laptop next to me on the seat. It was useless. A blond-haired, green-eyed bachelor was clogging too many of my thought processes. My lesson plans would have to wait. I was on vacation.

  When would Flynn get back? Would he take his time?

  The kiss had made him so skittish. I’d had no clue why, but he’d certainly filled me in.

  Crazy J.

  They had called me that? I couldn’t argue. As an adult, I was nothing but honest with myself, but I’d sugarcoated some parts of growing up. Tears pricked my eyes. Nope, every minute of it had sucked.

  At least Flynn hadn’t shunned me outright. I might not have survived the humiliation.

  Hadn’t there been any part of him that had been just a teeny bit interested?

  Jaw wired shut.

  Nope. I could see that clearly now. No wonder I hadn’t dated until college—and I’d even started college a year later than normal.

  I rubbed my eyes and stretched. Flynn had suggested a bath, but I wasn’t wasting the water if I was going into the lake. I’d luxuriate in the jets afterward.

  But that didn’t mean I had to sit around and wait for a guy, even if that guy was my dream man. I rubbed my wrist. When he’d grabbed it, adrenaline had flooded my veins. Lingering survival instincts. But his expression had been more panicked, nothing close to the rage I’d seen in my dad’s eyes.

  I tucked my computer away. Yes, a walk was a good idea. Waiting for Flynn to get back before I did anything was something my mom would’ve done. Probably still did. I wouldn’t know, hadn’t talked to them for over twelve years, and didn’t want to.

  Taking the stairs, I evaluated my outfit. I’d thrown the shorts back on and a pair of flip-flops, but I only planned a walk, not a hike. This should be fine. The yellow bat wings across my breasts lifted my mood. I would’ve never walked around home with just a swim top, but once Flynn had seen me in it, why bother to be embarrassed? Just because I never showed off my body didn’t mean I was ashamed of it. Clothes were a necessity. I’ never had the money for them to be fashionable.

  I’d love to wear more clothing that would incite Flynn’s reaction. He’d always acted stunned around me, unsure of what to say or do, but today had been different. The look in his eye when I’d caught him staring at my breasts or my stomach…

  I grinned. Day one of this vacation had started out awesome.

  Warm air enveloped me as soon as I stepped outside. I toed along the stone path that ended at a narrow trail down to the lake.

  A low laugh of delight escaped. A dock! Walk first, soak the toesies later.

  Leaves rustled around me as a gentle breeze blew off the lake. The air cooled me off. In a couple of months, it’d be hot and muggy, but at the beginning of June, the wind was perfect.

  A girl could get used to this. I closed my eyes and inhaled a slow breath. Stress rolled off me in waves as I imagined it dripping off my fingertips. How had I not realized how tense I’d been? For so many years. I couldn’t remember a time I hadn’t lived under a mountain of stress and anxiety. Meals were no longer an uncertain event, but I had to work hard to provide them and I only had myself to worry about.

  Not true. I fretted terribly over my kids, both those in my class and the ones I tutored. Anxious thoughts plagued me constantly about being able to maintain the level of clients I needed for tutoring. I adored teaching, but my dream was to open my own business, one designed solely for one-on-one tutoring, and I wanted to fundraise and develop grants to make it affordable for all families.

  I’d been so busy worrying about my hopes and dreams tanking—and watching where I stepped on the rough sandy shore with only my sandals—that when I looked up, I was already on another cabin’s property.

  Oops. I turned around. Flynn’s cabin and even his dock weren’t visible from where I stood. On the way back, I closed my eyes and lifted my face to the sun. Spending my vacation worrying wasn’t going to help anything. I had to relax and table my thoughts for a few days, but my lifelong habit of planning for the future was more a survival instinct and harder to set aside.

  A man’s voice drifted on the wind. I hoped I hadn’t intruded on another couple’s lake getaway.

  I opened my eyes before I veered into the water. Flynn came jogging around the bend, his gait relaxed but his face tense.

  “Tilly. Fuck, you scared me.” He stopped in front of me.

  “Why in the world were you scared about me?” No one cared about me.

  My throat grew thick as that statement echoed in my head. Sometimes, no matter how hard I tried to maintain my optimism, my true feelings emerged.

  “I got back and the cabin was empty. You said you didn’t know how to swim but I couldn’t find you outside, either.” He glanced around. The water was to my right, trees to my left, and another plush cabin at my back. “What were you doing?”

  He’d been worried about me. Best vacation ever. “I ran out of sugar and thought I’d ask these nice folks if they could loan me some.” I grinned and playfully punched him on the shoulder. “I was just going for a walk before I sat on the dock and hung my feet in. But now that you’re here, I can go wading.”

  I continued on the path and he fell into step beside me. I peppered him with questions about what he’d bought, what I should cook with it if we could go fishing. He muttered that he didn’t have a boat and glowered at the path in front of us.

  He went from relieved to sullen. Had I done something wrong? Had the sandwich worn off? Was he hangry now?

  I brushed it off. The lake beckoned. I shed my sandals and shorts. Small rocks bit into my feet as I jumped and danced into the water.

  “Oh my god, it’s cold,” I squealed but kept plowing in. Giggles escaped as the waves lapped higher on my legs, sending shivers rippling over my body. I threw my head back and laughed with pure delight.

  The lake bottom wasn’t any more comfortable on my feet than the shore, but I managed to wob
ble around.

  Flynn was staring at me, his hands shoved in his pockets, as still as a statue.

  “Are you coming in?” I glided my hands around, letting cool water slide through my fingers. I was only halfway down the length of the dock, the water to the tops of my thighs. My feet were visible.

  His throat worked like he was going to speak, but he just shook his head.

  “What’s wrong?”

  His gaze dipped to my belly. “Nothing. I need to start the grill.”

  Then why didn’t he? He didn’t move. “Oh, but you’re acting as my lifeguard and can’t until I’m done.” I held up two fingers. “Two more minutes.”

  He gave me a curt nod.

  I might’ve pushed it to five minutes, even ten, as I frolicked in the water. The only thing warding off a chill from the cool water was the heat of his gaze licking across me. He was either taking his lifeguarding duties seriously, or I was getting to him. I waded back to shore and grinned to myself. The mighty Flynn might just find me attractive.

  Chapter 5

  Flynn

  I watched as much as I could stand of Tilly exiting the water like a nymph in the sexiest Batman bikini ever made. My cock was weeping for just one touch of her skin, and every giggle she let loose banged around my body until I could barely stop myself from stripping down and charging in after her.

  How the hell had Crazy J with the neon braces become that damn sexy?

  How the hell could I be lusting after her that badly? I’d been with a lot of women. In high school, I’d slept with girls who were cheerleaders, on the dance team, even gymnasts. And I’d fucked them all as adults. Picked them up wearing clothing that could just as well be see-through, stripped it off, had sex, and walked away.

  Tilly should just be another girl. No, she wasn’t. She was Tulip “Crazy J” Johnson. I should not lose one drop of blood to my cock for her. But I couldn’t argue with how appealing she was. Without the wacky wear, she was sweet in a magnetizing way. Without the odd choice in fashion, she was sexy as hell, but it was her uninhibited joy that was as addicting as an eight ball.

  Was it the whole reverse-psychology thing? I couldn’t have her and that made her so damn irresistible?

  Yeah. Yeah, that made sense. And she wanted me, too, but she wasn’t coy or using her body as a lure to hook me. I was used to the game, the one played in the clubs to pick up ladies. They’d give me “the look” and I’d strike up a conversation. I’d tell them only enough to keep them interested. Business owner was usually enough. I always made sure to say nothing that resembled a promise for the future. Then it was my place or theirs, and I always opted for theirs if at all possible. Sometimes they had a roommate and I’d just grin wickedly. Deal, done. The next morning, I might go for another round before I walked out.

  But Tilly wasn’t playing any games. She was herself, she liked me, and we were stuck together all week. I couldn’t handle another full day of her prancing around half-dressed and giggling, much less suffer through seven more days. Well, there was Monday—I’d have to run in and meet with John.

  I strode up the deck, past the grill, toward the sliding glass door into the kitchen, and froze. Behind me, visible in the reflected glass, Tilly crested the stairs, her breasts swaying in their top, her long legs sparkling with droplets. Her sandals and shorts were in one arm and her eyes glowed with elation.

  So. Damn. Beautiful.

  I couldn’t do this. It wasn’t like me to ignore my body’s needs and it thought it needed Tilly hard and fast. But she was a teacher. Of special-needs kids. I couldn’t start a relationship.

  Relationships meant honesty and if I was honest, she’d think I was the worst person in the world. And she’d be right.

  While I was stuck in the mental dilemma between touching her or tying my hands to my sides, she passed, opened the door, and slipped into the house, calling back that she’d shower and help with supper.

  So now I had to cook while she was naked upstairs. I vibrated with the urge to stalk her and slake my lust.

  She wanted me, had for years. I’d wanted her all of one fucking day and could barely stand it.

  What if I gave us what we both wanted…and made sure it sucked?

  I’d take the edge off, she’d be disappointed and lose the mystery of me, and I’d convince myself she was just another lay.

  My body screamed “yes” at the excuse to touch her and before my mind could point out how wrong it was, I blew in through the door, barely remembering to close it to keep the bugs out.

  I sped up the stairs. Her door wasn’t completely shut and I pushed it open—and nearly came to a full halt. My steps slowed as I approached her.

  Naked. In all her glory. She’d stripped off the suit. Her eyes went wide in shock and she covered her bare, spectacular breasts, but her breath hitched at my expression.

  “Flynn.”

  “We need to do this.” My voice was guttural. If she said no, I’d throw myself out the window to keep from touching her. My gaze dropped to her sex. My erection throbbed so hard I feared I’d lose my load just putting the condom on.

  “Okay.” She dropped her hands.

  “Get on the bed.” Make it bad. Make it bad. At least for her. Once I stroked through her folds, my intuition said I’d be lost. I dug my wallet out and grabbed a condom. There was a whole box in the other room.

  I could make it good, take her all week, and then make the sex lousy.

  No! I had to do this wrong the first time.

  She crawled back onto the bed, her legs splayed, opening herself to me.

  Yesss. She wasn’t completely bare like some women I’d been with, and honestly, I didn’t care. Tilly was perfect, her curls glistening for me.

  Her gaze wandered over me, from the fly of my shorts to the condom in my hand. Now that I had her right where I’d fantasized about her since that damn auction, it was hard to go fast. Her body was ripe for savoring, for pleasuring until she begged, licking and caressing for hours while I brought her to climax over and over again.

  The condom shook in my fingers.

  Make it bad. Break the spell between us. This was for her more than me.

  I ripped the packet open. Damn. I was fully dressed. The shorts were first, shoved down in seconds, and I was caught in her stormy gaze as I rolled the condom on.

  Her eyes went wide again as she eyed my length. I liked her attention on me way too much.

  The condom was settled, and I kneeled on the bed in between her legs. She propped herself on her elbows, her knees up, her expression wondrous.

  She was going to kill me.

  I should kiss her first or something. Then her lush breasts would smash against my chest. If I kissed her mouth, I’d have to tongue those nipples. How sweet would her creamy center be?

  It wouldn’t be making things worse for her if I got lost in pleasuring her. No more touching than necessary. Hands on her knees, I shoved them wide. “Ready?”

  She bit her lip. Her hips rolled toward me, but she glanced from my cock to my mouth. Was she going to insist we be more intimate? Would I be able to deny her?

  Like me, she seemed ready to go from zero to sixty. She nodded.

  I placed myself at her entrance. Her sex surrounded the tip of my shaft, her flesh greedy, but I wasn’t a complete bastard. I was after shitty sex, but she wasn’t as wet and ready as I would normally ensure, so there would be no rabid thrusting.

  I pushed forward, just enough to envelope the tip. She groaned and rocked her pelvis and I couldn’t stop until I was buried.

  My thoughts faltered. Her body was heaven. A hot furnace gripped my dick and her muscles massaged my length. I could climax just seated inside of her.

  “Flynn, you can’t imagine how long I’ve wanted this.”

  Her words were a cold splash of reality. I couldn’t encourage this thing between us. I had to crush her crush. She was too… for everything. Too good, too sweet, too innocent. I wasn’t worthy.

  I ro
cked out and back in. My climax was almost at the peak, her tight sex, and soft moans the most erotic thing I’d experienced, and I just let it happen. I allowed my body to get carried away faster than ever before without seeing to her orgasm. Even a weak orgasm was still an orgasm. Make it bad.

  I threw my head back and as much as my body screamed at me not to, I withdrew and shook my release outside of her.

  She let out a gasp when I slid out and I was afraid to open my eyes and face her. My first time hadn’t even been as epically terrible as this.

  But I looked at her. She seemed disoriented and confused as she contemplated the space between her legs. I pushed off the bed. She closed her knees and let them fall to the side.

  I slapped the side of her ass. “Good game.”

  Covering my disdain at my actions, I gave her my back and left her room.

  After I shut the door to the master bath, I leaned my forehead against the wood. My body shook, all the adrenaline and self-loathing draining out. Simmering lust I feared would never go away stayed with me, leaving me half hard.

  That was supposed to have been the worst sex of my life. Instead, the wet heat of her body had gotten me off in less than a minute and we hadn’t so much as kissed. But my lips remembered how supple she’d been when I’d kissed her earlier. Or when she’d kissed me.

  Tilly worked me up tighter than Crazy J. This was so much worse than high school.

  Tilly

  My sex throbbed, plainly stating I hadn’t been brought to completion.

  Warm water bubbled around me in the jetted tub. Funny, I’d assumed I’d be more thrilled to use it. Instead, I soaked and debated whether to make myself come or hope that Flynn would do it later. If there was a later.

  A little swirl of excitement snaked through me. I’d had sex with Flynn Halstengard.

  The feeling crashed. And it’d been awful.

  Not, like, all of it. For a few seconds when he’d been moving inside of me, he’d fulfilled all my fantasies. He was the only guy on earth who didn’t have to do more to get me off. Maybe it was his superpower, holding that power over all women. But it had been over and done before I could say “orgasm.”